Vintage Schwinn Tires

There have been many tires from Schwinn. In fact Schwinn patented, invented, and introduced to America many types of improvements in tire science or as they refered to it "tire art". Below is a little bit of the history of Schwinn tires, types, and models.

Schwinn Balloon tires

1933-1955

Balloon tires (wide, durable tires with innertubes) were introduced to America after Mr. Scwhinn went to Europe to research bicycles there. The new "balloon" tires were wider and had an inner tube, which naturally became the standard of bicycle tires to this day.
Schwinn introduced the balloon tire in the spring of 1933 and two years later it was pretty much used on all bicycles made in America.
from a 1933 advertisement: "Low pressure 18 to 22 lbs.
The only major development since the coaster brake. A 2 1/8" automobile tire type double tube, straight-side, cord tire on a new deep drop center rim. A construction embodying all the latest advancements in the tire art."

Schwinn S-7 tires

1954-1970s

The Schwinn S-7 tire was introduced when Schwinn created the Middleweight bicycle class in 1954/1955. The S-7 tire was quite a change, that really improved the feel of bicycling. These tires were made to fit the newer, slim rims of the Middleweights. S-7 tires were 1-3/4 inch wide instead of the until then standard 2.125 inch wide tires of the heavyweights. The S-7 tires were 45-50 psi (pounds per suare inch) so they rolled smoother than the older tires which were "low pressure". Two of the most popular Schwinn tires came from this era...

Schwinn Westwind

1956

In 1956 Schwinn submitted a patent for the "Westwind" tire. the patent was awarded in 1957. Schwinn westwind tires were to become the main tire to be used on all their middleweight bikes (like the Corvette, the Panther, the Jaguar, etc.). The Westwind was a popular tire and the white wall version was simply a beautiful tire that every kid wanted on their bike (if they could convince their parents to pay for the upgrade to white walls - which in 1958 cost one dollar).